Possible Mountain Lions in IDY - careful!

[sirenmary]

I don't mean to unnecessarily scare anyone off, but I think we're onto something here. Read the full report at my blog, but I think (and the ranger at the station between here and Hemet agreed) that we have some hungry mountain lions hovering about up here.

Please be careful if you ride at Hurkey Creek or here in Idyllwild. Please don't go out in the evenings alone. I think we should be getting some weather this weekend anyhow, so the trails might be covered with snow again for a little while.

Cheers!
Mary
http://sirenmary.blogspot.com

[allison]

Where up there was that taken? (Posted on your blog also). Mostly just curious as we've been riding from Cranston up to Little Thomas Mountain (but in the mornings). I think we've seen some prints out there.

[sirenmary]

That was actually taken between Hurkey and Idyllwild. However, I rode Rouse Ridge the past 2 days also and saw the prints you're talking about. I rode Rouse ridge since i've been freaked out about doing loops in one area all day and needed a long ride. I've been looking at photos etc. for the last week and those prints on Rouse Ridge look the same. I didn't take photos of those ones, but they are the same size and also don't have nail marks. I'd worry out there too - especialy in the evenings. I've been riding mid-day along there.

[Cragar]

On New Years day the local front page of the oc register had a mt lion in the back yard of a residence home in san juan capistrano, her 25lb shetland sheep dog chased it up a tree, officals said it was a 100lb cat, it was later released back into the local mountains, hopefully far away.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/tree-...51921-cat-lion

[Permagrin]

Originally Posted by cc322

On New Years day the local front page of the oc register had a mt lion in the back yard of a residence home in san juan capistrano, her 25lb shetland sheep dog chased it up a tree, officals said it was a 100lb cat, it was later released back into the local mountains, hopefully far away.

http://www.ocregister.com/news/tree-...51921-cat-lion

It's wonderful that they released it back into the wild, I love endings like this. One small step for the cats .

[dstepper]

I don't understand California, we wait until a lion does something really bad before it is put down. If a lion wandered into someones yard in Arizona the government hunter would have taken care of the lion not returned so can to do it again...maybe next time with a child in the yard.

I spend allot of time riding in Prescott, AZ; Granite Basin has one on the largest populations of cats in the USA. Granted they have much more game to hunt there, deer, antelope, and tons of not-a-pigs, there is zero tolerance when lions get near people. Many on horse back ride armed, just a different attitude I feel much safer riding alone out there even knowing cats are all around.

Dean

[Fired Yo Momma]

In South Dakota and Nebraska the state would pay you for every coyoate killed.

[Schecky]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I don't understand California, we wait until a lion does something really bad before it is put down. If a lion wandered into someones yard in Arizona the government hunter would have taken care of the lion not returned so can to do it again...maybe next time with a child in the yard.

I spend allot of time riding in Prescott, AZ; Granite Basin has one on the largest populations of cats in the USA. Granted they have much more game to hunt there, deer, antelope, and tons of not-a-pigs, there is zero tolerance when lions get near people. Many on horse back ride armed, just a different attitude I feel much safer riding alone out there even knowing cats are all around.

Dean

I understand what you are saying, but I think some empathy for the cats is in order. Much of their home range was recently burned and we continue to build homes where they once roamed.
There is going to be some interaction between wildlife and people when people live next to wilderness.
Considering the minimal number of cougar attacks, shooting shouldn't be the first reaction in all cases.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I don't understand California, we wait until a lion does something really bad before it is put down.

By that logic we would kill every mountain lion now. Hardly an effective wild life management strategy. With very few attacks a year, this doesn't even make practical sense.

EDIT: Looks like Schecky beat me to it.

[Vickie]

Originally Posted by Schecky

I understand what you are saying, but I think some empathy for the cats is in order. Much of their home range was recently burned and we continue to build homes where they once roamed.
There is going to be some interaction between wildlife and people when people live next to wilderness.
Considering the minimal number of cougar attacks, shooting shouldn't be the first reaction in all cases.

I agree 100%. More and more we are infringing on the free space, home to our wild life. When we keep building and building, where do we expect these majestic, beautiful animals to go? Yes, it's difficult to to have our pets attacked, to have our children's lives endangered, and our friends horribly attacked (a friend of mine - Anne Hjelle January 01) but it comes down to awareness. Awareness when our homes are built bordering the wilderness, and awareness when we are out in the wilderness riding our mt bikes - doing what we love.

[GOGrannyGO]

Remember the animal on our state flag?
The Last Bear
--OC Weekly

100 years ago they were fighting us [people] for turf in/around/on Santiago, just like the cats.

I'm all for relocation unless there is a mortal-danger confrontation --yeah pets included. But a yapping ankle-biter dog thru a sliding door is not mortal danger, IMO, and it should be taken away/relocated.

I'd rather know they're there and be wary than know OC suburbia squashed them all out, and I'm part of the problem.

Tough call, though, since I never had a loved-one killed by a wild animal --no pets don't count, because I'm responsible for my pet, and I feel I failed the animals I've lost to 'yotes. Again, tough call, since I should be responsible for my child also.

Bare bones, human life is worth more than an endangered animal, and the animal will lose out with direct or even circumstantial evidence. Be wary and responsible.

G

PS still looking for my first big cat siting. OC/SoCal res for 30years.

[BrewMaster]

Originally Posted by GOGrannyGO

PS still looking for my first big cat siting. OC/SoCal res for 30years.

try strapping a pot roast to your handle bars next time you go riding. they'll find you.

[boboso]

Lions are possibly fighting a losing battle in So Cal (especially OC County). Though it is from the OC Register, this article and working with local agencies etc don't make me feel good about the future of the lions.

Article Linky: http://www.ocregister.com/news/sforz...-cave-mountain

Taken from the article:
Fish and Game estimates there are about 5,000 lions – vs. 37 million people – living in California. Experts believe lions living in the Cleveland National Forest among Orange, Riverside and San Diego counties may, because of inbreeding, become extinct. The urban borders and highways are isolating them from other animals.
Boyce adds that what happens in Southern California will provide insight into what will happen elsewhere.
"There are perhaps 20 adults living in this region with little or no chance for new lions to move in, or for these to immigrate out," he said. "The scale of wildfires now approaches the size of lion home ranges – about 80 square miles. This means that lions sometimes have nowhere to go in a fire, and surprisingly, they sometimes make the wrong choice to move into a fire."

[Abui]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I don't understand California, we wait until a lion does something really bad before it is put down. If a lion wandered into someones yard in Arizona the government hunter would have taken care of the lion not returned so can to do it again...maybe next time with a child in the yard.

I spend allot of time riding in Prescott, AZ; Granite Basin has one on the largest populations of cats in the USA. Granted they have much more game to hunt there, deer, antelope, and tons of not-a-pigs, there is zero tolerance when lions get near people. Many on horse back ride armed, just a different attitude I feel much safer riding alone out there even knowing cats are all around.

Dean

The wisdom of the people made the law --

Why can't mountain lions be hunted in California?
With the passage of Proposition 117 in 1990, mountain lions became a "specially protected species," making mountain lion hunting illegal in California. This status and other statutes prohibit the Department of Fish and Game from recommending a hunting season for lions, and it is illegal to take, injure, possess, transport, import, or sell any mountain lion or part of a mountain lion. Mountain lions may be killed only 1) if a depredation permit is issued to take a specific lion killing livestock or pets; 2) to preserve public safety; or 3) to protect listed bighorn sheep.

[dhmike]

yes , they are up there. i have a client who lives up there and he has only seen moutain lions at night and has never had a problem them. he said they pretty much keep to there selves and the only problem he has come across is a moutain lion attacking stray dogs.

[DeeZee]

Originally Posted by GOGrannyGO

Remember the animal on our state flag?
The Last Bear
--OC Weekly

100 years ago they were fighting us [people] for turf in/around/on Santiago, just like the cats.

I'm all for relocation unless there is a mortal-danger confrontation --yeah pets included. But a yapping ankle-biter dog thru a sliding door is not mortal danger, IMO, and it should be taken away/relocated.

I'd rather know they're there and be wary than know OC suburbia squashed them all out, and I'm part of the problem.

Tough call, though, since I never had a loved-one killed by a wild animal --no pets don't count, because I'm responsible for my pet, and I feel I failed the animals I've lost to 'yotes. Again, tough call, since I should be responsible for my child also.

Bare bones, human life is worth more than an endangered animal, and the animal will lose out with direct or even circumstantial evidence. Be wary and responsible.

G

PS still looking for my first big cat siting. OC/SoCal res for 30years.

Thanks

[el_d00der1n0]

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